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BOTANICAL ORNAMENTATION

LECTURE OUTLINE (web, ppt)

Introduction

• Topic: use of plant images in art and architectural ornamentation
• Mention a few topics and end with some ideas about plant growth
• Remember art is everywhere:
  • plant images are widepread in paintings and other forms of art of all cultures
  • why?: own beauty, symbolism, fill in space, documentation

 

Examples of tree images:

 

Carpets- - tree motifs: weeping willow and excurrent tree forms

Porcelain China plates: weeping willow and pine form indicative of stressful growing conditions

Impressionist paintings: Monet: poplars in summer and autumn

Landscape paintings: Frederick Cole: Yosemite Valley

Botanical illustrations:

Seals and emblems University of Washington seal near south entrance




Ornamentation of public buildings and places Anderson Hall, University of Washington Jacson Tower, Portland OR	United States National Bank, Portland OR Portland OR


In western United States, many buildings date from turn of (20th) century

Ornamentation influenced by German tradition

• Blossfeld (Germany): naturalist, artist, architect, photographer
• Photographed plants to use as models for mold of ornamentation on buildings (fresh plants wilt)

Examples of plant forms as ornamentation Acanthus leaves, fiddle heads,	tendrils, flowers,
Acanthus leaves, fiddle heads	apical buds

Some repeated forms illustrate basic nature of plant growth:

Expansion of parts with constant proportionality: Equiangular spiral (chambered nautilus, fern fiddle heads)

equiangular spiral

chambered nautilus

fiddlehead of fern

Addition of # of parts: spiral (#leaves, cone scales)

spines (modified leaves) of cactus

embryonic leaves in bud of Pseudotsuga menziesii

Also helps avoid self-shading (137 degrees, 30 seconds).

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